Monday, October 27, 2008

One Borough at a time

Still no camera cord, folks. So I'm going to take this moment to tell you about the super amazing play that I saw that I think you should see too (if you live in the New York Area anyways).


Have you ever heard of Danny Hoch? Chances are, you haven't. I'm still not sure why I have. He's an actor/playwright/director who writes and performs in these really great shows and started the Hip Hop Theater Festival (maybe that's why I've heard of him - I performed in the 1st and 2nd Annual SF Hip Hop Theatre Festivals - believe it or not). I'd seen some of his work on video, but never live before.

His new show, Taking Over, is about the gentrification of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, not colonial). Like his previous shows, Hoch played several different characters who relate to their surroundings in various ways. There's the guy who grew up in the neighborhood who hates the way that it's changing, the girl who just moved in and sells t-shirts on the streets, the developer, the real estate agent, the guy who speaks only Spanish and runs a car service - well the list goes on and on. It's a great slice of the changing neighborhood and Danny Hoch is a great performer. He's got an amazing ear for the rhythm and cadence of people's voices.

I saw the show on the free interborough tour (Danny Hoch is a man of the people - bringing free theatre to those of us who don't live in Manhattan), but the rest of you can see it at the Public Theatre starting November 7th.

2 comments:

Meredith said...

Sounds great- perhaps I'll see it.

Kat said...

props for using the word cadence...booyah!